Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times do I have to forgive someone who sins against me? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, Peter, but seventy-seven.” (pp Matt.18:21–22)
“Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” (Col.3:13)
Jesus, I’m sure I’ve read this story at least seventy-seven times, if not 70 x 70 times. But I need to keep reading it because forgiveness is as daily as breathing, eating, and sleeping. It’s not a memory thing; it’s a heart thing. Like Peter, I want to be generous—but generous up to a limit when I experience injustice, indifference, and stuff that is flat out wrong. Help me, Lord.
Here’s where I need to start—I know I sin against you in thought, word, and deed every day. Which means, Jesus, I still don’t love you or anyone perfectly. There’s no limit to your forgiveness. In fact, you have already forgiven me of every sin I’ll ever commit—not just the sins I’m aware of. That’s the mercy-math of the Gospel—which is the only math I like. But you don’t have amnesia. You forgive but you don’t forget.
In a far grander way–you forgive and choose not use any of my sins against me—you don’t weaponize the ways I fail you. Jesus, you are “bigger” and far more loving and glorious than a karma-like, tit-for-tat relationship. You don’t get even with me; you give me more grace. But grace isn’t “sloppy-agape,” “a pass,” or make believe. You are making me like yourself, so you discipline me in love. To be forgiven doesn’t mean I get to be foolish.
Here’s my “ask” today, Jesus. Grant us wisdom from above and kindness from your heart to put all this together in our relationships. Many of us have fresh wounds and old scar tissue on our hearts. To forgive someone doesn’t mean we have to “feel forgiving.” It means we stay alive to our forgiveness from you, stop all forms of heart-homicide towards those who fail/hurt us, and trust you to work for our good in the situation. You are, you will… thank you Jesus, and So Very Amen.
